Leigh get your tankwater tested~! Take a sample of tankwater to your petshop, ask them to test it for ammonia, nitrite and nitrates; then make sure they write the figures down for each and post them here, so someone can help you..
Warmer tank temperatures also have less oxygen.
Another way to cool your tank is move your tank away from direct light and heat sources, if need be move to coolest part of the house and close curtains or keep well away from window (I have mine on floor in spare bedroom, curtains shut).
You can also use a fan to help cool it. If you can get hold of a pedestal fan you can then angle and adjust the height - they're great!
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Quoting Leigh Josey on Sunday 11 February 2007 - 12:28 (#POST120963):</font>
replaced it with refridgerated rain water<!-/quote-!><hr size=0></blockquote>
Did you pour the rain water straight in or float it in waterbottles? Just that if you did pour it in this will cause fluctuating temperatures.
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Quoting Leigh Josey on Sunday 11 February 2007 - 01:32 (#POST120919):</font>
Do you think I should give the tank a full clean as there was a lot of gunk in the filter.<!-/quote-!><hr size=0></blockquote>
Never give your tank a full clean. Partial waterchanges done daily or every few days is better than one big clean which can throw your cycled tank out and cause it to restart the nitrogen cycle to establish the good bacteria.
BTW how long
a) have you had your axolotl; and
b) has your tank been running before adding your axolotl to it?
c) most importantly did you cycle your tank?
Please read this link on the cycling:
http://www.caudata.org/cc/articles/cyclingEDK.shtml
If, as I suspect your tank is "new" and you have only had your axie a couple of days or few weeks, then the peeling to his body may be due to water quality; ie ammonia/nitrite building up. This is part of the cycling (which is from the axie poo/urine and any uneaten food/waste left there). While your tank is cycling you have to do regular, daily 20-30% waterchanges to keep the water safe enough for your axie to live in. You will alo have to get your tankwater tested regularly, test before a waterchange or every few days if you don't have the test kits.
Don't take the advice from the petshop if they want to sell you products to get rid of the ammonia/nitrite or cycle your tank faster. The best way to remove ammonia/nitrite is daily partial waterchanges, never full waterchanges.
You can buy a master freshwater test kit, which includes tests for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, low pH and high pH, they cost about $50-$75 here in NZ, not sure how much they are in Australia tho.
If you can remove the guppy too.
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Quoting Leigh Josey on Sunday 11 February 2007 - 00:16 (#POST120903):</font>
I have cleaned the filter which was very dirty and changed about 30% of the water<!-/quote-!><hr size=0></blockquote>
Filters should not be cleaned the same day you do a waterchange; and when you do rinse it out, it should be cleaned in tankwater and not shaken/cleaned vigorously. If your tank is not cycled then your cleaning the dirty gunk may not be a good idea at this point.
Another good investment is a turkey baster if you can buy one, these are great for spot cleaning any axie poo or bits of uneaten/regurgitated food and waste.
When you do feed, once he starts eating, remove any uneaten food about 30mins-an hour after feeding otherwise it just adds more waste to bioload.
The best food for an axolotl is earthworms if you can get them and start a wormfarm. If you use mealworms, you're right they should only be used occasionally but make sure to chop the heads off as they can nip/hurt your axie as it tries to swallow it.
How big is your axie?
Any questions don't hesitate to ask, this forum is a great source of help and advice, moreso than any petshop I've ever dealt with.
Also, consider the fridging solution, if your axie starts getting stressed/ill/peeling again or you cannot maintain the tank temperature below 24 degrees, ideally below 20 degrees, then you should consider fridging as an option. I have put my babies, 6 1year olds/4 4 year olds, in the fridge many times over the past year due to illness of various sorts and has been a lifesaver. A coupld of axie owners also fridge their axies during the extreme summer heat as they're unable to keep the temperature below 24degrees.
If your axie starts peeling again, don't saltbath, this is mainly used for fungal or open wound infections, put him in the fridge in fresh dechlorinated water, not the tankwater and test your tankwater.
Sorry if my answers/queries seem all over the place but trying to give you as much advice as I can in relation to your threads; and it's early hours of the morning...
(Message edited by kapo on February 11, 2007)
